Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-03-30
CONFISCATTON OF FARM LANDS

UT IL hihtI ia NaNiOndl lew.
Mr.. Henry George, the late candi-
date OF the wOrkingmen for mayor OF
the city OF of New York has ANNOUNCE
ed doctrines in regard to land own
erShip that are absolutely revolution
any in character. lie demands that
there shall be no private ownership in
land whatever, that all lands shall
belong TO the government, and that
those who occupy and till the soil shall
pay rent to the government sufficient
10 pay all the expenses OF the govern
ment. In other words, that all taxes
shall be laid upon land. and that all
other property shall be free from taxa
ton. That such policy would amount
To absolute conliscation of the farms of
the country and rob the farmers of the
right or the ownership of the same, is
very evident. The Rev. DR.. McGlynn,
a Catholic priest OF st. Stephens
church, New York, has become a firm
believer in, and follower of Henry
Georges theories and publicly advo-
Gates the same. The Pope at Rome.
through Archbishop COrrigan of this
city, has suspended DR.. McGlynn from
further administering the duties of
priest in the Catholic church. In a
letter that DIR. McGlynn wrote to Arch
bishop COrrigan, he made the follow
ing statement in regard to land:
Il have taught and shall continue 10
teach. i'm speeches and writing. as long
as i live, that land is rightfully the
property of the people in common, and
that pirate ownership OF land is against
natural justice, no matter 10y what civil
or ecclesiastical laws il may be sane
toned and | would bring about i'll
stantlY, II could, such change Of laws
a hn varA,II
pirate property in land tCifhOut one pen
ny o. compensation TO tie nIiScdlled 0tcn-
erS.n
The doctrines announced i'm these
statements are not only revolutionary
IN character. but are as contrary to the
principles of justice and christianity as
would be highway robbery or brigan-
dage. DR.. McGlynn might as well
have announced that he was in favor of
thieving, house-buTning and crimes of
that kind. That any priest should pro-
claim such doctrines and still be allow
ed To administer the affairs of the
church. or even TO remain in the church,
Il surprising. But this is substantially
the doctrine OF Henry George, for he
endorses DIR. McGlynn. Henry George
not only san, tiOns these statements,
but he would resort to violent means to
enforce them, as will he seen from the
! Following quotations from an editorial
in his paper. When Henry George was
asked 10y the Herald reporter what he
thought of the strikes III that city he
| replied:
II think it is the frst passive form
or civil war, which steel-clad forts
and appropriated ships cannot guard
us against-the kindling of passions
and the arraying OF forces that, reused
to fun energy. may give cities TO the
flames and destroy our very civilization
itself. The reason why men have moth
/ ing but their power TO labor, are forced
/ To fight for employment, to form com
binations to cOerce employers, and 10
push back the competition OF laborers
ike themselves, is that labor is shut
out or its natural opportunities for en-
\ plOying Itself by the mOuopolizatiOn of
land. And even while they are fight
ing under the spur of temporary neces-
Sity, the feeling is deepening among
hese striking men as IL Is among the
work ngmen all over the United States
that striking can at best secure only tenn
IOrdTy advantage, and that the root of
"a labor difficulties is To be found in
the land question and to be reached
through political action"
These teachings Of Henry George
have teen Incorporated in the platform
of the wUrkingmen's organization in
THIS city. His doctrines are being
ad pit by the Knights of Labor la all
parts OF country, and if nothing inter
Venes To prevent, they will be preach
ed To millions OF workingmen In this
country who will favor revolution to
enfor e them. Are the farmers IF this
country ready to meet such a revolu-
ton 2 Will they calmly submit to have
their lands taken from them, as ind,-
Gated by DIR. McGlynn and Henry
George? IL is high time that the
| farmers of this country were organized
for their own protection. and that these
doctrines of George and McGlynn
should be examined in all their hideous-
ness and denounced in the most en-
phatic manner. Unless there Is an i'm
fluence brought To bear to counteract
these teachings. it will not be long be
! fore ''our cities may be given 10 tie
flames. and our civilization destroyed .
As indicated by Nc George. A pecul-
In feature OF the land conascation doc